June 20-24 is the final week of the Fibonacci Mural Project, one of the Oak Park Education Foundation's BASE Camp Classes this summer. Kids going into grades 6, 7 and 8 have been studying the Fibonacci golden ratio, investigating where it appears in nature, science, art and architecture, and designing and painting a mural about it under the "L" tracks at Forest/Home Avenues and at Brooks Middle School, 325 S. Kenilworth in Oak Park every day from 8:30-11:30 am. The vibrant mural will be completed on June 24 when parents and friends are invited to a reception on the site at 10:45 a.m.

The mural was the brainchild of Brooks science teacher Phyllis Frick. During their book group getaway weekend, Phyllis proposed this class to Oak Park Education Foundation Executive Director Deb Abrahamson, who wanted to expand OPEF's BASE Camp offerings to include programs in the arts and sciences. Also in their book club is designer/artist Christine Baumbach, who helped plan the project that is now being carried out by 19 middle schoolers from District 97 as well as other area schools. Another local artist, Jill Kramer Goldstein, is assisting with the project.

The first week of the trip, the students took a field trip to Humboldt Park to see the many murals in the neighborhood, getting ideas and inspiration for their own project. The students and the camp would like to thank the Oak Park J.C. Licht/Epco store for donating paint to the project, and to Bercom for donating HANDy paint pails for the kids to use.

This is the second year that the Oak Park Education Foundation, an independent non-profit providing hands-on enrichment programs to District 97 kids, is running its summer BASE Camp. In addition to the Fibonacci Mural Project, BASE Camp includes Dissection & Medical Illustration, Vex Robotics, Geared Up (engineering and building landmarks with LEGOs), Architecture Adventure, and several Art Start arts camps for students entering grades 1-8. Read more and see lots of photos from camp at www.opef.org.